Open AccessExtended C‐terminus and length of the linker connecting the G‐domains are species‐specific variations in the EngA family of GTPases
Author(s) -
Tomar Sushil Kumar,
Kumar Prashant,
Majumdar Soneya,
Bhaskar Varun,
Dutta Prasun,
Prakash Balaji
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
febs open bio
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.718
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 2211-5463
DOI - 10.1016/j.fob.2012.07.009
Subject(s) - linker , gtpase , c terminus , small gtpase , n terminus , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biochemistry , computer science , peptide sequence , amino acid , gene , signal transduction , operating system
EngA is an essential protein involved in ribosome biogenesis. It is an unique GTPase, possessing two consecutive G‐domains. Using sequence and phylogenetic analysis, we found two intriguing variants among EngA homologues – one with a shorter linker joining the G‐domains and another with a longer linker, which additionally possesses an extended C‐terminus. Interestingly, while the former variant is mainly restricted to firmicutes, the latter is found in nonfirmicutes. Chimeric proteins with interchanged linkers and extensions were generated to gauge the importance of these elements. Ribosome interaction experiments employing the chimeric proteins suggest that a precise combination of the linker and C‐terminal extension are important features regulating EngA ribosome interactions in a variant‐specific manner.